Hannah Santora 2009 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area softball captain.
Better than ever
Wheaton North coach Karen Calabrese recalled that last year her team could score off Santora.
"This year we couldn't touch her," Calabrese said.
Another DVC coach called the movement on Santora's pitches this year "mind boggling."
One thing for certain - she's a different pitcher.
Santora switched pitching coaches 10 months ago, going to All In One Softball Academy. There she worked with West Chicago graduate Jennifer Silks.
Silks shut Santora down for two months, then put her in speed and agility sessions. She helped tighten Santora's pitches, revamping her changeup. They reviewed detailed video.
"I saw her at the end of the fall season," Silks said, "and she couldn't hit her targets with her fastball to save her life. That was the first thing to accomplish, was to fix the fastball. After that we went to the change. We wanted to give her some truer movement on her pitches. That's going back to basics."
Silks further helped Santora develop a curveball and screwball.
"As a junior she really relied on one pitch, the rise," Silks said.
Santora thinks she has taken opponents by surprise with an expanded repertoire. She has also added 3-4 mph.
"I overthrew a lot last year," Santora said. "I'm pitching smoother this year - I'm not trying to throw the ball so hard."
Calabrese marveled at Santora's improved command. She hits locations - and if batters swing and miss on the corner she'll tease them a little further off.
"She just hits spot after spot after spot with all her pitches," Sanew said, "and with a little bit more pop on the ball."
Santora's ultimate goal, what she puts in all the long hours for, is to take Glenbard North back downstate.
She has come a long way since Sanew's first memory of Hannah as "a little baby." He also grew up with DiGioia's older brother Joe.
"I definitely have a bond with her and Bri," Sanew said. "I wanted to coach those two personally and thought it would be a fun opportunity. Hannah almost is like a sister. Coaching her has been nothing but a blessing from my standpoint."
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